Champlin woman charged after stealing van

by Rachel KytonenECM Publishers
A Champlin woman is facing charges after allegedly stealing a van in Zimmerman on March 25 and leading officers on a high-speed chase that eventually ended just west of Cambridge.
Submitted photoCollette Hanson, who allegedly stole a white transit van from Zimmerman on March 25, is pinned in by officers just west of Cambridge after leading officers on a 30-mile high-speed chase.

Collette Ann Hanson, 27, was charged March 27 before Judge Sheridan Hawley in Sherburne County District Court in Elk River with felonies theft of a motor vehicle and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle. Her bail was set at $100,000 without conditions or $25,000 with conditions, and her next court appearance was set for April 19.

Hanson still faces charges in Isanti County, as well as an outstanding warrant for a probation violation for theft of a motor vehicle.

According to court records, Hanson was convicted of felony theft of a motor vehicle from Anoka County in September 2015.
Submitted photoTwo attempts to execute a Pursuit Intervention Technique, or PIT, maneuver and stop sticks to stop the vehicle were unsuccessful.Finally, authorities were able to pin Hanson’s vehicle to bring it to a stop.

According to the criminal complaint: On March 25 at 4:30 p.m., Sherburne County deputies were notified of a motor vehicle theft along the 26130 block of Third Street East, in the city of Zimmerman. The vehicle was described as a white Ford Transit van, and initial attempts to locate the vehicle were unsuccessful.

Vehicle spotted on Highway 169
Sometime later Sherburne County Deputy Trevor Tuorila was informed a vehicle matching the description of the stolen vehicle had been reported traveling northbound on Highway 169. Tuorila was able to observe the vehicle traveling on Highway 169 and County Road 9 and confirmed it was the stolen vehicle. Tuorila then attempted to stop the vehicle.

Hanson began to drive recklessly between other vehicles on the road, almost striking them, and attempting to elude the deputy with speeds exceeding 115 mph. The vehicle continued on both highway and city roads, including residential areas. Two attempts to execute a Pursuit Intervention Technique, or PIT, maneuver and stop sticks to stop the vehicle were unsuccessful.

The stolen vehicle eventually stopped when it was blocked in by multiple squad cars and unable to move in the area of the 32400 block of Palm Street in Isanti County.

Hanson was identified as the sole occupant of the stolen vehicle. The owner of the vehicle indicated he did not know Hanson and had never seen her before he saw her drive away with his vehicle.